Will Aston Villa make a ‘racism complaint’ against Newcastle United?
by stresster on November 5th, 2008
| 353 words |
While Joey Barton has tried his best to defuse the spat that took place between him and Gabriel Agbonlahor during the Newcastle v Aston Villa match on Monday night, this one doesn’t appear to be going away in a hurry. The pair clashed after referee Steve Bennett awarded a free-kick against the Newcastle midfielder during the first half of the match, prompting the latter to confront the Villans striker.
Aside from a cheeky pinch on the nose, it seems that it was a case of handbags at ten paces, yet The Guardian today report that Aston Villa are treating the matter with a great deal of seriousness. Indeed, it appears as though Barton might have traded a rather offensive insult or two, with the Midlands club spending a good deal of time yesterday weighing up whether there was racist content coming from a player who needs to stay out of trouble or risk expulsion from the game altogether.
Aston Villa were last night weighing up whether to make an official complaint to the Football Association as they looked into allegations that Joey Barton racially abused the England Under-21 international Gabriel Agbonlahor during Newcastle United’s 2-0 victory at St James’ Park on Monday night.
Newcastle declined to comment. Barton’s agent, Willie McKay, said that he was in hospital last night and added: “I don’t want to talk about the situation. I don’t know anything about it.” Barton is understood to categorically deny the allegations.
Villa officials have confirmed that the investigation is into matters of a racist nature and Setanta Sports has provided the club with footage of the set-to with Agbonlahor. Villa’s legal advisers spent several hours yesterday examining the tapes and are considering employing lip-reading experts.
This is the last thing that Newcastle United need, and it appears as though Aston Villa are not letting the matter lie in a hurry. Nevertheless, if indeed Barton is proven to have made a racist remark to Agbonlahor, it will once again mean that this words of remorse made a fortnight ago will amount to little more than hot air.
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calvo - November 5th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
if he is found to have made racist comments to agbonlahor,then sack him.he has soo many chances to correct himself and each time he doesnt respect the chances he has been given.I actually think that he has the atributes to be a decent player and a player that could be inspirational just because he has a never say die attitude much like keane or carragher,but he clearly doesnt deserve the riches that football gives him.again if and only if he has made racial comments then definetly sack him.
BringBackBananas - November 5th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
i have made my feelings about barton blatently clear on here before, so there is not point bashing him again
but again, as i have said before, i feel for newcastle on this subject. it was the previous regime and that moraless cunt fat sam that signed him, now he is a 5.5million pound asset that the club own. if they sack him, they are basically just writing off that large sum of money just so another moraless club (probably wherever fat sam ends up next) can pick him up for nothing
IF he is found guilty of this, then the FA has to make a stand. Newcastle should be able to sack him and either claim some kind of compensation (like Mutu/Chelsea), or at least hold onto his registration until the time the FA seem it fit he can sign for another club
it is a strange one tho, villa are trying to put together a case based on video evidence, but no word from the player himself? even through his agent? no smoke without fire though i suppose, maybe he is keeping quiet and letting the club go through official process